Page 19 - link magazine

This is

GR E I
E NDOWN

A Newsletter from West Swindon's Local School • April 1994

3earing opens pathways to

school-college link-ups

Sir Ron Dearing, the Govern- manageable - leaving teachers
ment's Chief Adviser, is pressing more time to teach and coach
ahead with sorting out the prob- pupils. There will also be more
lems with the National Curricu- choice for older pupils.
lum and tests. One major change will mean
The February meeting of the that 16 is no longer such a break
Greendown Parents' Council dis- in a young person's education.
cussed some of the changes that 14-19 is now seen as one phase,
will affect pupils in the next two taking young people through aca-
years. The subjects will be slim- demic, vocational and occupa-
mer, reducing some of the over- tional pathways.
loaded content, and the tests more Greendown is already forging
stronger links with both Colleges
Brook Field pupils Simon in Swindon to prepare for this
Liggett and Byron Robson used future. New College is exploring
tuning forks to test the effect the idea of a "Satellite Sixth", with
of vibration on water GNVQ Technology or Science Science and Technology links with partner primary schools
taught to New College students at continue to thrive in order to develop 5-19 education for West
Greendown. We are establishing Swindon children.
links with departments at Swin- Greendown staff work with children from all of West
don College so that Greendown Swindon's primary school. Above, Lea Bashford and Helen
pupils can take their subject cred- Willmott, from Brook Field conduct a science experiment to
its on to further education. Investigate the effect on sound of varying depths of water.

Positive achievements

exceed expectations

Greendown continually seeks with their families. When they
to promote and reward the suc- have received three such letters,
cess of our pupils. Much of this representing fifteen written posi-
newsletter is devoted to celebrat- tive achievements, they are
ing some individual successes of awarded a Certificate of Merit by
Greendown pupils in the wider - their tutor. Three of these - forty
even international - community. five achievements - is recognised
We also look to reward success bya Governors' Certificate of Merit,
in school, and have introduced an presented by the Head.
improved system this year for Although we are only halfway
GREENDOWN recording and recognising special through the year, two pupils in
effort and achievement. When a year 7 have already gained the
'This is Greendown' pupil has put in extra effort, or has Governor's Certificate of Merit.
is published by done particularly well, their Paul Wylie, of 7Kb, was the first
Green down teacher records a 'positive achieve- to earn forty-five positive achieve-
Community School ment' in their Greendown Diary. ments, for his consistently high
Grange Park Way Five positive achievements standards of effort and achieve- Emily Knock and Paul Wylie,
West Swindon earns a letter of merit, which they ment in all subjects. He was closely first to reach 45 positive
under contract with take home to share their success followed by Emily Knock, of 7JWe. achievements
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